adj
facetious
fuh-SEE-shuhs
adj
1
Joking about something in a flippant way, especially when the topic deserves to be taken seriously.
"This is a serious meeting, so please stop being facetious."
"He made a facetious remark about the budget cuts that didn't land well."
How to Use Facetious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJoking around when you're supposed to be serious, often in a way that annoys people.
Common mistake
Facetious means flippantly joking; it does not mean "witty" in a complimentary sense — it usually carries a slightly negative, inappropriate-timing connotation.
Common pairings
a facetious comment
being facetious
facetious remark
Word Forms
more facetious comparative, most facetious superlative
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This is a serious meeting, so please stop being _____.
Etymology
From French facétieux, from Latin facetia, "jest, wit."